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Loughran's effective use of coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing.[5]

Loughran fought many middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight champions in his career, including Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey and Georges Carpentier. Loughran even achieved a Newspaper Decision over fistic phenom Harry Greb. Loughran was but 19 years old when he first met Greb. As a light heavyweight, he defeated two future world heavyweight champions: Max Baer and James J. Braddock. Loughran finally fought Primo Carnera for the heavyweight title but lost a decision.[6]

In an interview late in life, Loughran is quoted as saying his loss to Carnera was a pre-arranged fait accompli, e.g. "...I had to knock him out to win, I had to agree to that." Footage of the fight is limited and scarce, but Loughran contended he had Carnera in trouble in Rounds 4 and 10, "...but then, when I couldn't finish him, I knew the thing was over." The decision a foregone conclusion, Tommy Loughran told Peter Heller in April, 1972, "I beat (Carnera), no question about it."[7]

While Loughran is remembered among boxing's elite, his career was marred by his fragile hands and jaw.

He appeared as himself on the game showTo Tell the Truth on February 12, 1957. On August 22nd of that year, he attained the unique distinction of being the third man in the ring at Sick's Stadium, Seattle, WA, for Floyd Patterson's defense of his heavyweight honors vs. one Pete Rademacher, the first and only time a fighter has challenged for the heavyweight crown in his professional debut. There were several knockdowns in the fight; Tommy counted out the challenger at 2:57 of the 6th round.

In the 1960s Loughran retired from having been a long-time, successful broker on Wall Street, where he'd dealt in commodities (sugar). He became a keynote speaker, appearing at dinners and banquets, his message an attempt to promote and strengthen the image of boxers and boxing at what for the sport was a troubled time.[7] In addition, Tommy lent color commentary to at least one championship bout, Carlos Ortiz vs. Johnny Bizarro in Pittsburgh, June 20, 1966.